Trolling device

ABSTRACT

A trolling device manipulable from a boat for trolling close to shore. The device has a pair of transversely spaced parallel floats and a rudder is pivoted to the outer side of one of the floats. A single line connected to the rudder serves for towing the device as well as for positioning the rudder relative to the associated float.

11 F253. XR 3,760,762 512 114/145 R, 145 A, 162, 164, I65, 168; 0,9105% mimfifi" has a pair of 1131 57571355" 43/4313. 27.4; 115/22 spaced parallel floats and arudder is pivoted to the outer side of one of the floags. A single line connected [56] References Cited to the rudder serves for towing the device as well as for 1 United States Patent 1 1 I 1 1 1111 3, Spon'gberg 1 1 Sept. 25, I973 [54] TROLLING DEVICE 3.142.929 8/1964 Killilea 43 4313 1.723.236 8/1929 Hansen 43/4113 [761 Spongberg 5331 510,749 12 1893 Wilson et a]... 114/145 R 1 Rocky Mountam House. Alberta, 244,285 6/1881 Nyqvis: 114/168 w C nada 2 392,079 10/1888 Steel) 114/236 1221 Filed: D66. 10, 1971 I 1 Pnmary Examiner-George E. A. Halvosa Appl- NO-I Assisram Examiner-Edward R. Kazenske Att0me .lohn E. Prothroe [521 U.S.Cl. 114/235 R, 43/4313 511 -1m.c1 1363b 21/00 [571 ABSTRACT (58] Field of Search 114/235 R. 236, 144 R; A trolling device manipulabga f gm lgat for trolling UNlTED STATES PATENTS positioning the rudder relative to the associated floa t.

2,582,754 H1952 Kahler 43/43.]3 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures l l i 1 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in trolling devices for use in fishing, and the prin- An extension arm26 is provided at the outer, free edge of the rudder 23 remote from the hinge 24, the arm 26 having an'eye 27 to which the aforementioned line 16'is connected. The other end of the line 16 is cipal to object of the invention is to permita fisherman 5 .windable upon a reel of some other Suitable winding on a boat'to trollalong the shoreline while the boat is further away from the shore and therefore does not disturb fish in the close to shore waters where the trolling action takes place.

This object is attained by the provision of a trolling l0 device which includes a pair of elongated parallel floats and a rudder pivoted to the outside of one of the floats. A single line extends from the rudder to the fisherman on a boat the line serving to tow the device laterally of device 28 manipulatedby the fisherman 12.

An elongated rod-like guide 29, equipped with downturried' ends, is mounted on the float 20b, extending longitudinally of the float as shown in FIG. 1. The line 16, extending from the rudder 23, passes transversely across the floats 20a, 20b and through the elongated space between the float 20b and the guide 29 so that the guide with its downtumed ends serves to limit displacement of the line 16 longitudinally of the floats. A pair of'stop members 30, such as for example bent the boa t as well as to positioifthe rudder relative fifth? leaf springs, or the like, are secured to the opposite-side aypid gbstacles adjaceni ilie shoFTahd also to nidv e frg n neside of the,boat to beh ind the stern and to the opposite side of theboat, an important feature of the surfaces of the rudder 23. As will be apparent from FIG. 3, one or the other of these stop members is en gageable with the outer side of the associated float a so as to prevent the rudder from assuming a position device being that it is reversible in the sense that is is 2 parallel to the float In other words when the rudder ls able to travel in the same direction as the boat when the positionofthe deyiceisreversed from either side of the boat to the other.

The trolling deviceof the invention is simple in conmoved against the outer side of the float in one direction or the other, it is still angularly offset from the float by a small acute angel, thus assuring that the rudder is always biting water.

The single line 16 serves to tow the trolling device 10 Strucilonv dependable in opefalionieasy to manipulate, directly abeam of the boat 13 and it simultaneously and lends itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds,

serves to position the rudder 23 relative to the float 20a. When the device is in use as shown in FIG. I, the line 16 holds the rudder positioned in forwardly divergent relation from the float 200 as the trolling device invemion will be undflsgood f 3 {gnawing moves with the boat 13 in the direction of the arrest-"14.

scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts and wherein:

If some obstruction lies in the path of the device 10- or if the fisherman wishes to change the position of the device relative tothe boat, the fisherman relaxes the tension on the line 16, which permits the rudder 23 to swing rearwardly (as at 25 in FIG. 3) until the rudder is against the outer side of the float 20a rearwardly of the hinge 24. The line 16 may then be wound in at the reel 28, which will cause the entire device 10 to shift its position toward and astern of the boat 13, or if the fisherman so wishes, to the opposite side of the boat. By that time the attitude of the trolling device will have be come reversed so that the rudder-equipped float 20a is on the outside and the float 20b is on the inside or nearer to the boat, and the rudder 23 which was previously folded rearwardly will again extend forwardly moreflpless parallel to he Shore line 15. AS will be from the hin'ge24, that is, in the direction of travel 14.

hereinafter described, a single line 16 extends from the trolling device to the fisherman, and a plurality of drop lines 17 are connected to the line 16 and are equipped with suitable lures 18 which troll in the water. The line 16 itself is above water and is sufficiently long to permit the trolling device to be close to the shore 15 while the boat 13 is much further away from the shore and therefore the operation of the boat does not disturb fish in the close to shore waters where the trolling action takes place.

The trolling device 10 itselfcomprises a pair of elongated. transversely spaced parallel floats 20a, 2012 which are spaced apart and secured together by suitable means such as cross bars 21 and diagonal bars 22. A horizontally swingable rudder 23 is hingedly or pivotally connected at one edge thcreofas at 24 to the outer side of the float 20a, the rudder hinge 24 being located substantially midway of the length of the float and permitting the rudder 23 to be swung through almost l80as indicated by the arrow 25 in FIG. 3. The floats 20a, 20!; are tapered at both ends so that they may travel through water in either longitudinal direction.

In any desired new position of the device, releasing of tension on the line 16 will permit the rudder to assume a forwardly divergent relation with respect to the float 20a and the rudder will thus again bite water for opera- 0 tion of the device in the new position.

propulsion vehicle, said line se mgw floats as well asposition s ai'd rudder relative to said floats; meansadapted to maintain said rudder at no t less 1555 an acute angle to the longtudinal axis of said floats.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said pair 5 of elongated floats are capable of travel in either longitudinal direction and said rudder ispivoted through almost I". 

1. A trolling float comprising a pair of elongated float members secured together in transversely spaced parallel relationship and each having a longitudinal axis; a rudder pivotally secured along one vertical edge to the outer side of one of said floats; a line connecting to a propulsion vehicle, said line serving to tow said floats as well as position said rudder relative to said floats; means adapted to maintain said rudder at not less than an acute angle to the longtudinal axis of saId floats.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said pair of elongated floats are capable of travel in either longitudinal direction and said rudder is pivoted through almost 180*. 